Radio
When the spread of radio began, the British were quick to agree on certain principles. Unlike the press, it should not be financed, even partially, through commercial advertising; but its programmes should be free from state control, and should therefore have no state subsidy. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was set up, given the monopoly of radio broadcasting, and financed by compulsory annual payments. The Minister in charge of Posts and Telecommunications appoints the BBC’s Board of Governors and its chairman. The Director-General and staff are appointed on grounds of qualifications and experience, always in such a way as to ensure that there is the least possible ground for allegations of partisanship or bias.
On sound the BBC runs four programmes: “1” for pop music, “2” for light entertainment, “3” for minority interests, including music. For part of the day it is used for the academic courses of the Open University. The main programme for news, comment and discussion is BBC Radio 4, which (unlike the others) is split into separate regional programmes for part of the day. Radio 5 is largely given over to sports coverage and news. There are also locally-run BBC programmes such as radio Bristol, and, since 1973, some local commercial sound broadcasting stations, with mainly music and news. The BBC World Service is listened to throughout the world and has a high reputation for objectivity.
